Jain Bronzes from Karnataka: Some Art Historical and Technical Aspects

-- Sharada Srinivasan

This paper provides an overview of selected art historical and archaeometallurgical aspects in the study of Jaina bronzes from Karnataka. Despite the relative paucity of studies on Jaina bronzes from the Deccan region and Karnataka it is pointed out that these form a significant body of bronzes for study also from an archaeometallurgical perspective. This is partly because they are often inscribed (unlike most Hindu images) which provides some sounder basis for chronological attributions. It is illustrated here that archaeometallurgical studies and lead isotope finger-printing in particular, have potential for throwing further insights into the questions of dates, stylistic attribution and provenance of Jaina bronzes and those from the Deccan and Karnataka. In particular, the case of certain bronzes which show affiliation with Chola and western Indian bronzes are touched upon, as well as the case of an inscribed Jaina image from Karnataka which may represent Ambika or Saraswati, for which the 9^th-10^th century attribution is also supported from lead isotope fingerprinting studies.

© 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.

Africa's Socioeconomic Benefits from the Expanding Sino-African Interaction

-- Chuka Enuka

The paper examines the myriad roles and contributions of China to Africa's social and economic well-being within the parameters of the expanding Sino-African relationship. The age-long interaction between China and Africa, has witnessed trade and economic investments, aid, special concessions, debt relief, scholarships, provision of educational and medical training, and building of infrastructural projects which flow mainly from China to Africa. This deepening engagement with Africa has generated an alarmist tendency in the international relations scholarship, with arguments labeling the behavior of China in Africa as a form of new colonialism and neoimperialism, but this paper argues the opposite. The paper posits that China's relationship with Africa has undeniable gains for the continent, and has contributed to its socioeconomic good. China's expanding engagement with Africa offers the continent, an ample opportunity for growth and progress.

© 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.

Famines Versus Forest Policy in Hyderabad State

-- S Abdul Thaha

From the 18^th century onwards India had experienced a series of famines recurring at very short intervals bringing untold suffering and mortality. During famines common people used to depend on natural resources like forests for sustenance. With the introduction of land and forest policies by the British colonial administration, centuries old dependence of people on forests was disrupted. Consequently, when calamities like famines hit the country, the people had little to fall back on natural resources like forests for sustenance. Even the princely states, which comprised one third of the Indian subcontinent, were also insensible to the needs of the people during the times of crisis, and had adopted the British land and forest policies. Thus, the country as a whole experienced the disruption of centuries old harmonious relations between man and nature. The present paper examines the history and nature of famines in the princely state of Hyderabad against the backdrop of introduction of state forestry with the British colonial influence. It studies the traditional survival strategies of peasant and tribal communities during famines prior to the introduction of state forestry. It analyzes how the state forestry had curbed people's access to natural resources like forests during famines. It examines to what extent people depended on forests at the time of crisis and the State response to the demands of the people during famines. It concludes how state forestry made its people much more vulnerable to natural calamities like famines.

© 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.

Anti-Ahmadiya Sectarian Riots and Challenges of Nation Building During the Early Years of Pakistan

-- Om Prakash

The Ahmadiya movement is considered as a radical movement inside Islam, which raised controversies in the history of Islam in South Asia. After partition of India, majority of the Ahmadiya community migrated to Pakistan and allied with the ruling Muslim League party, keeping aside their earlier anti-league sentiments. However, despite this, the Ahmadiya community had to face persecution in Pakistan and the Government attitude remained discriminatory. Later on Ahmadiyas were declared as non-Muslim sect by the government of Pakistan. This paper has made an attempt to look into the Ahmadiya question during the first decade of the emergence of Pakistan.

© 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.

BOOK REVIEW

The Art of War for Women Sun Tzu's Ancient Strategies and Wisdom for Winning at Work

-- Chin-Ning Chu
Rachna Sharma

© 2011 IUP holds the copyright for the review. All Rights Reserved.